The Newsmagazine of Long Beach Island and Southern Ocean County

By Juliet Kaszas-Hoch | on July 06, 2022

GREEN GOALS: Alliance for a Living Ocean suggests forgoing single-use plastic straws and utensils and instead using metal, bamboo or glass straws, and metal or compostable utensils. (Courtesy of Alliance for a Living Ocean)

Alliance for a Living Ocean, the Long Beach Township Marine Field Station and Root Green Shoppe are among those taking part this month in “Plastic Free July” – and hoping to inspire others to join this global movement to “be part of the solution to plastic pollution.”

“Plastic Free July is about noticing how much plastic is around you and finding ways to eliminate it that works best for you,” the field station and Root Green explain. “Your individual action may not feel like it’s making a big difference, but magic happens when our individual actions inspire behavior change in the people around us. By participating in Plastic Free July and talking about it with people in your circle, you may influence others to get involved.”

“Join us in taking part of a global movement to reduce single-use plastics and keep our oceans and beaches clean,” ALO encourages. “All month long, we’ll be sharing weekly plastic-free challenges and facts about plastic pollution’s effect on the ocean. We champion every step towards living a life with less plastic.”

Throughout July, check the Instagram accounts for ALO (@alo_lbi), the field station (@lbtfieldstation) and Root Green (@rootgreenshoppe) for tips to reduce personal plastic waste. Those who want to share their progress can use include #plasticfreejulylbi on their posts.

ALO’s first weekly challenge of the month was to refuse single-use plastic utensils and straws. “Instead, use a metal, bamboo or glass straw, and swap plastic utensils for metal or compostable utensils,” the group recommended.

Other goals, as posted by the LBT Field Station and Root Green, include: switching to bar shampoo and conditioner; avoiding takeaway coffee cups; trying a zero-waste bathroom routine, personal care routine or travel routine; not purchasing any new synthetic clothing; grocery shopping with reusable bags, and using net bags for produce rather than the store-provided plastic bags.

The groups also suggest a “bin audit”: “Put on gloves and lay out the contents of your rubbish on newspaper or old shower curtain. Ideally, you should do a bin audit before your garbage and recycling collection days to see the full extent of household trash. Categorize your items into similar materials: paper, plastic, food, glass, metals, unidentifiable (mixed packaging or electronics, for example). Examine the rubbish and learn what can and cannot be recycled in this area.”

Then, assess buying habits. “What do you see most frequently?” the groups ask. “Food waste? Take-away containers and cups? Note the repeats and brainstorm how you can eliminate these. Compost? Bring your own travel mug or container? Research what simple switches can replace these common repeats to be nonexistent in your bin.”

Check Instagram all through July for more tips to go plastic free.

And take the pledge at plasticfreejuly.org.  —J.K.-H.

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